Ollie's Candy fits well in Wilshire Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – For her first start of 2019, Ollie’s Candy ran against the best turf females in Southern California, finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 27.

For her second start of the year, Ollie’s Candy will be the focus of attention in a more reasonable race for her– the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at mile on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday.

“I think she’ll be better in this spot,” trainer John Sadler said.

Owned by Paul and Karen Eggert, Ollie’s Candy has excellent credentials. She was second in her Grade 1 debut in the Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf last summer.

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Ollie’s Candy figures to be favored in the $100,000 Wilshire Stakes, which drew a solid field of 11 that includes Storm the Hill, who won the 2018 Wilshire, and Simply Breathless, the impressive winner of her American debut in the Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on April 27.

The Wilshire is the most prestigious of 10 races on Saturday’s program on the final weekend of the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting. The Los Alamitos summer meeting begins on June 29.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ollie’s Candy, by Candy Ride

Last 3 Beyers: 83-93-90

◗ Ollie’s Candy joined Sadler’s stable in the spring when previous trainer William Morey disbanded his stable after an alleged medication violation.

◗ In the Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Ollie’s Candy was at the back of the field throughout under jockey Joel Rosario and finished 5 1/2 lengths behind Vasilika, who is unbeaten in four starts this year.

“Joel said the grass was a little wet and she was slipping,” Sadler said. “It was a good race, horse-wise. Vasilika is very good.”

◗ Ollie’s Candy will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux in the Wilshire. Desormeaux rode Ollie’s Candy to a win in the Grade 2 Summertime Stakes on dirt here in June 2018.

◗ Ollie’s Candy will start from the rail, which may work to her advantage, Sadler said.

“She runs from off the pace,” he said. “She can save some ground.”

Storm the Hill, by Get Stormy

Last 3 Beyers: 98-89-90

◗ Storm the Hill won the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course last November and has not raced since. She showed workouts through early December of last year and didn’t work again until April after a wintertime break.

◗ Trainer Phil D’Amato hoped to run Storm the Hill in a stakes on the hillside turf course this spring, but races on that course were discontinued after a two-horse accident in late March. Instead, the track has offered five-furlong turf races.

“Five furlongs is too short,” D’Amato said. “We waited for this spot.”

◗ D’Amato plans to run Storm the Hill in stakes at Del Mar later this summer. She is likely to race as a stalker in the Wilshire.

“This will get her year started for Del Mar,” he said. “I think she’ll come with a nice late kick.”